Arrow impact-enhancer and methods

Abstract

Devices increase an arrow's kinetic energy, and hence the force on target impact, without a substantial decrease in the velocity of the arrow as compared to the same arrow without such devices. In especially preferred forms, the impact-enhancing devices are insertable into an arrow shaft and include an impact-enhancer weight which is freely moveable within the arrow shaft. The impact-enhancer weight will thus be propelled in response to rapid deceleration of the arrow (i.e., caused by the arrow head striking a target area). The relatively high velocity movement of the impact-enhancer weight will create a secondary kinetic energy effect which drives the arrow head further into the target area. That is, the impact-enhancer weight will be propelled forwardly at a sufficiently high velocity and strike a rearward region adjacent the arrow head thereby generating a secondary impact force (i.e., secondary to the initial target impact of the arrow itself) causing the arrow head to penetrate deeper into the target area. In such a manner, the effect of the arrow head is enhanced.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A device to enhance impact of an arrow comprising: 
       a distal connector adapted to being operatively coupled to a distal end of an arrow shaft and to a forwardly projecting arrow head,  
       an impact-enhancing weight adapted to be freely moveable within the arrow shaft to forcibly strike the connector in response to an abrupt deceleration force of the arrow, and  
       a proximal retainer to frictionally, but releasably, retain the impact-enhancing weight in a proximal armed condition during flight of the arrow toward a target area.  
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide shaft connected at a distal end thereof to said connector and having a retainer ring at a proximal end thereof. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein said impact-enhancing weight is generally cylindrical and sleeved over said guide shaft for movement between a proximal armed position, wherein the weight is frictionally, but releasably, retained by said retainer ring, and a distal impact position, wherein the weight impacts said connector. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a spring member acting upon said retainer ring, wherein said retainer ring is moveable along said guide shaft against the bias force of said spring member. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide tube connected at a distal end thereof to said connector and having a retainer at a proximal end thereof to frictionally, but releasably, retain said impact-enhancing weight, and wherein said impact-enhancing weight is a ball which is freely moveable within said guide tube. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a spring member acting upon said retainer, wherein said retainer is moveable along said guide shaft against the bias force of said spring member. 
     
     
       7. An arrow comprising: 
       an elongate arrow shaft having an arrow head at a distal end of the arrow shaft, and arrow feathers at a proximal end of the arrow shaft; and  
       an impact-enhancing device operatively connected to the distal end of the arrow shaft rearwardly of the arrow head, said impact-enhancing device including,  
       (i) a distal connector which is connected to said distal end of said arrow shaft and to said arrow head,  
       (ii) an impact-enhancing weight freely moveable within said arrow shaft to forcibly strike the connector in response to the arrow head striking a target area, and  
       (iii) a proximal retainer to frictionally, but releasably, retain the impact-enhancing weight in a proximal armed condition during flight of the arrow toward a target area.  
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a guide shaft connected at a distal end thereof to said connector and having a retainer ring at a proximal end thereof. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein said impact-enhancing weight is generally cylindrical and sleeved over said guide shaft for movement between a proximal armed position, wherein the weight is frictionally, but releasably, retained by said retainer ring, and a distal impact position, wherein the weight impacts said connector. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a spring member acting upon said retainer ring, wherein said retainer ring is moveable along said guide shaft against the bias force of said spring member. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a guide tube connected at a distal end thereof to said connector and having a retainer at a proximal end thereof to frictionally, but releasably, retain said impact-enhancing weight, and wherein said impact-enhancing weight is a ball which is freely moveable within said guide tube. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a spring member acting upon said retainer, wherein said retainer is moveable along said guide shaft against the bias force of said spring member. 
     
     
       13. An arrow comprising an arrow shaft, a forwardly projecting arrow head, impact-enhancing means moveable freely within the arrow shaft between a proximal armed condition and a distal impact condition, wherein said impact-enhancing means is propelled from said armed condition and into said impact condition in response to an abrupt deceleration force of the arrow on impact of the arrow head with a target area, for thereby imparting a secondary impact force to said arrow head, and a proximal shock-absorber means which absorbs recoil impact of said impact-enhancing means. 
     
     
       14. The arrow of  claim 13 , wherein said impact-enhancing means includes a connector to connect said impact-enhancing means to both a distal end of said arrow shaft and a proximal end of said arrow head. 
     
     
       15. The arrow of  claim 14 , wherein said impact-enhancing means is in the form of a cylindrical tubular element. 
     
     
       16. The arrow of  claim 14 , wherein said impact-enhancing means is in the form of a ball. 
     
     
       17. A method of enhancing impact effect of an arrow head connected to an arrow shaft by an arrow head connector, said method comprising the steps of: 
       (a) arming an arrow for enhanced impact effect by positioning an impact-enhancing weight for free movement within the tubular arrow shaft of an arrow to be shot so that the weight is spaced from a rearward end of the arrow head connector;  
       (b) shooting the arrow at a target and allowing the arrow to strike the target to thereby responsively cause the impact-enhancing weight to be propelled forwardly within the arrow shaft and strike the arrow head connector, whereby the impact effect of the arrow head is enhanced, wherein  
       step (a) includes briskly moving the arrow through a generally arcuate path to create sufficient centrifugal force to move the impact-enhancing weight within the arrow shaft to a position which is spaced from the rearward end of the arrow head connector.  
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein step (a) includes grasping the forward end of the arrow while manually moving the arrow through the generally arcuate path. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the impact-enhancing weight is generally tubular and is sleeved over a guide rod contained within the arrow shaft, and wherein the weight is propelled forwardly guided by the guide rod in response to the arrow striking the target. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the impact-enhancing weight is generally spherical and is positioned within a guide tube contained within the arrow shaft, and wherein the weight is propelled forwardly guided by the guide tube in response to the arrow striking the target. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 17 , wherein step (a) includes frictionally retaining the impact-enhancing weight within the arrow shaft in a position spaced from the arrow head connector. 
     
     
       22. An arrow comprising: 
       an arrow shaft,  
       an arrow head attached at a forward end of said arrow shaft, and  
       an impact-enhancing device in operative association with said arrow head, wherein  
       said impact-enhancing device enhances kinetic energy of the arrow head in an amount of at least about 20% in response to a target strike with a velocity reduction of the arrow in flight of less than about 5% as compared to a comparable arrow not including the device, wherein  
       said impact-enhancing device includes a guide shaft, and a generally tubular impact-enhancing weight moveably sleeved over the guide shaft so as to be freely moveable within said arrow shaft.  
     
     
       23. An arrow comprising: 
       an arrow shaft,  
       an arrow head attached at a forward end of said arrow shaft, and  
       an impact-enhancing device in operative association with said arrow head, wherein  
       said impact-enhancing device enhances kinetic energy of the arrow head in an amount of at least about 20% in response to a target strike with a velocity reduction of the arrow in flight of less than about 5% as compared to a comparable arrow not including the device, wherein  
       said impact-enhancing device includes a guide tube, and a generally spherical impact-enhancing weight moveably received within the guide tube so as to be freely moveable within said arrow shaft.  
     
     
       24. A device to enhance impact of an arrow comprising: 
       a distal connector adapted to being operatively coupled to a distal end of an arrow shaft and to a forwardly projecting arrow head,  
       an impact-enhancing weight adapted to be freely moveable within the arrow shaft to forcibly strike the connector in response to an abrupt deceleration force of the arrow, and  
       a guide shaft connected at a distal end thereof to said connector and having a retainer ring at a proximal end thereof.  
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 24 , wherein said impact-enhancing weight is generally cylindrical and sleeved over said guide shaft for movement between a proximal armed position, wherein the weight is frictionally, but releasably, retained by said retainer ring, and a distal impact position, wherein the weight impacts said connector. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 25 , further comprising a spring member acting upon said retainer ring, wherein said retainer ring is moveable along said guide shaft against the bias force of said spring member. 
     
     
       27. A device to enhance impact of an arrow comprising: 
       a distal connector adapted to being operatively coupled to a distal end of an arrow shaft and to a forwardly projecting arrow head,  
       an impact-enhancing weight adapted to be freely moveable within the arrow shaft to forcibly strike the connector in response to an abrupt deceleration force of the arrow, and  
       a guide tube connected at a distal end thereof to said connector and having a retainer at a proximal end thereof to frictionally, but releasably, retain said impact-enhancing weight, and wherein  
       said impact-enhancing weight is a ball which is freely moveable within said guide tube.  
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 27 , further comprising a spring member acting upon said retainer, wherein said retainer is moveable along said guide shaft against the bias force of said spring member. 
     
     
       29. An arrow comprising: 
       an elongate arrow shaft having an arrow head at a distal end of the arrow shaft, and arrow feathers at a proximal end of the arrow shaft; and  
       an impact-enhancing device operatively connected to the distal end of the arrow shaft rearwardly of the arrow head, said impact-enhancing device including,  
       (i) a distal connector which is connected to said distal end of said arrow shaft and to said arrow head,  
       (ii) an impact-enhancing weight freely moveable within said arrow shaft to forcibly strike the connector in response to the arrow head striking a target area, and  
       (iii) a guide shaft connected at a distal end thereof to said connector and having a retainer ring at a proximal end thereof.  
     
     
       30. The device of  claim 29 , wherein said impact-enhancing weight is generally cylindrical and sleeved over said guide shaft for movement between a proximal armed position, wherein the weight is frictionally, but releasably, retained by said retainer ring, and a distal impact position, wherein the weight impacts said connector. 
     
     
       31. The device of  claim 30 , further comprising a spring member acting upon said retainer ring, wherein said retainer ring is moveable along said guide shaft against the bias force of said spring member. 
     
     
       32. An arrow comprising: 
       an elongate arrow shaft having an arrow head at a distal end of the arrow shaft, and arrow feathers at a proximal end of the arrow shaft; and  
       an impact-enhancing device operatively connected to the distal end of the arrow shaft rearwardly of the arrow head, said impact-enhancing device including,  
       (i) a distal connector which is connected to said distal end of said arrow shaft and to said arrow head,  
       (ii) an impact-enhancing weight freely moveable within said arrow shaft to forcibly strike the connector in response to the arrow head striking a target area, and  
       (iii) a guide tube connected at a distal end thereof to said connector and having a retainer at a proximal end thereof to frictionally, but releasably, retain said impact-enhancing weight, and wherein said impact-enhancing weight is a ball which is freely moveable within said guide tube.  
     
     
       33. The device of  claim 32 , further comprising a spring member acting upon said retainer, wherein said retainer is moveable along said guide shaft against the bias force of said spring member.